How would things have turned out if Joshua had a YouTube channel?
By Dean Collins
They were all great storytellers. Not just ancient leaders but also most families used storytelling, both for education and for entertainment. And there were some great stories to tell in the times of Moses and then Joshua. They were stories filled with spectacular battles. There were epic failures when the people didn’t follow God and glorious victories when they did. There were stories of how God provided food every day and water from a rock. The stories included seeing rivers and seas divided and held back so that everyone could walk across on dry ground. Other stories recounted everything God said with instructions on how to live well.
They used storytelling for education and entertainment and repeating instructions from God on how to live well.
The instructions were basically pretty simple. Love God, love others, repeat the stories to each other, don’t be frightened, be strong and courageous, don’t worship anything or anyone but God, and you will have all you need to live well. But by the time Joshua and the next generation died, there arose another generation that didn’t know the Lord or what he had done for them. And things got ugly fast.
Forgotten stories, forgetting God
Even as the people failed to tell their stories and consequently forgot God, God sent many judges to rescue and remedy their various messes. This went on for at least 200-400 years. Sometimes the attention span of God’s children seemed to last a few years, and sometimes longer.
We forget the goodness and faithfulness of God when we don’t tell each other the stories. This makes me wonder about Generation Z. I’m also worried about Gen X and the Millennials. Each generation knows less and less about God. Yes, every person in every generation has some personal responsibility and opportunity for their own spiritual formation, but I’m pretty sure the older generations have a role to play with their storytelling.
Why don’t we give more attention to this? Is it laziness? Apathy? Have we forgotten the stories of how God has delivered, healed, rescued, and provided for us? Are we living in denial or deception, thinking our successes were all about us and by our own power and self-determination? If those are our stories, then we share much of the blame for the loss of faith in the successive generations.
Hungry for stories, hungry for God
Every generation is hungry for stories. Current research shows that 73 percent of U.S. adults use YouTube, and 77 percent of 15-35-year-olds watch YouTube. They watch for entertainment, they watch to learn how to do things, they watch because they’re so stressed and depressed they don’t know where to turn. Some of what they watch is to learn things some of us know but haven’t bothered to teach. For instance, one report said YouTube how-to videos were growing 70 percent year over year!
I don’t know if I can be as entertaining as the Baby Shark dance, which was the most watched video in February, but I can do better at telling stories to my children and grandchildren. That’s essential for all of us who want to both build relationships and share the stories of what God has done in our lives.
Our stories, our opportunity
If we have no stories of God’s love and power in our lives, maybe we need to start with repentance and reconnecting with the God of the universe and his Son Jesus who has changed everything for all time. He is waiting to bring abundant life for each of us if we only ask and receive.
We don’t need to be able to keep up with technology to tell our stories. We simply need to pay attention to God and to the younger generation so they know they are loved and learn the amazing things he has accomplished in our lives.
Your time with God’s Word
Joshua 1:8-9; 2:10-12 ESV
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